It hit a little too close to home and I could easily imagine the scenario Kaden presents us with through her novel playing out in our own suburbs. Missing You is such a well depicted story and a highly believable one at that. Kaden also works carefully to build a solid picture of the state of Ryan and Aisha’s relationship, as well as including some key figures in their lives that may have a part to play in Aisha and Ryan’s disappearance.

Kaden moves the narrative back and forth, between the past and the present day, to slowly reveal the vital details in the past that lead to the current day events. The police are unconcerned, believing Aisha and Ryan have taken off for a much-needed respite holiday but Patrick remains unconvinced. We discover that Aisha, a devoted mother to her high needs son Eli, uncharacteristically left Eli in the care of her father Patrick, to attend a distress call. The focal point of Missing You is the disappearance of Aisha and then the search to find Ryan, who is also missing. The unfolding story takes us from their love at first sight meeting at a university party, through to their hastened marriage, to the birth of their son Eli and right through to the present day nature of their fractured relationship. Missing You is the story of a couple, Ryan and Aisha. It offers the reader a powerful exploration of a family and a couple under stress, due to a missing key family member. Missing You is a sharp contemporary domestic noir novel, with subtle undertones of romance. Missing You does not suffer whatsoever from second novel syndrome, in fact, it is just as good as Kaden’s first novel. Kylie Kaden made quite the impression on me when I read her debut novel Losing Kate in 2015. Particularly when blood is found in Aisha’s abandoned car. Then, following a mysterious phone call late one night, Aisha leaves four-year-old Eli in the care of her elderly father Patrick – and doesn’t come back.Īs Patrick struggles with the grandson he barely knows or understands, his frustration with his missing daughter and absent son-in-law quickly turns to fear. Why worry that he didn’t want children or a 9 to 5 job? Nothing and no one would come between them.īut with the birth of their high-needs son, Eli, their extraordinary love is shackled into an ordinary life, their passion blunted by responsibility. When Aisha met Ryan she fell hard for his good looks and easy charm.

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Australian, Mystery

Publisher: Penguin Random House Australia

Missing you harlan coben book review